Nora Aunor and Joel Lamangan. Image: File photo/Facebook

Renowned director Joel Lamangan paid tribute to the late superstar Nora Aunor by recalling not only her talent but also her acts of kindness behind the scenes.

In a tribute posted on his Facebook page, Lamangan shared a story about how Aunor once gave P15,000 to an elderly farmer so he could buy a new carabao for his farm.

“Isang di ko malilimutan ng ginagawa namin ang Sidhi kung saan pipi ang role niya. Lunch break noon, lumapit sa akin si ate Guy at itinuro ang isang matandang magsasaka na nakaupo sa ilalim ng punong manga. ‘Bakit Magisa tay at bakit ka malungkot?’ Tumingin Ang matanda sa kaniya at nagsabing, ‘Namatay kasi ang kalabaw ko wala na akong magagamit na pansaka,’” he narrated.

(One thing I will never forget is when we were doing Sidhi where she played the role of a mute. During lunch break, ate Guy came to me and pointed to an old farmer sitting under a mango tree. “Why are you alone and why are you sad?” The old man looked at her and said, “My carabao died and I have nothing to use for farming.”)

Magkano ba ang kalabaw? Tanong ni ate Guy sa matanda. Mga kinse mil. Di namin kayang bumili. Tinawag ni ate Guy ang kasama niya at humingi ng 15 thousand, ibinigay sa matanda. ‘Ito tulong ko sa inyo, bumili kayo ng bagong kalabaw, huwag niyong ipagsabi na galing sa akin,’” he wrote.

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(“How much is a carabao?” Ate Guy asked the old man. About fifteen thousand. We can’t afford to buy it. Ate Guy called her companion and asked for 15 thousand and gave it to the old man. ‘Here’s my help to you, buy a new carabao, don’t tell others it came from me.)

The “Hustisya” director also shared how the late superstar would often give money to the production crew, especially those who were underpaid.

“Mabait si ate Guy sa lahat ng ka trabaho niya. Ayaw niya ng may naaapi, o naaagrabyado lalo na sa mga crew na maliit lang ang bayad. Sa last day ng filming tiyak meron siyang ibibigay na tulong na pera sa lahat. Tuwang tuwa ang mga manggagawa sa kabutihang loob niya. Ng matapos ang shooting ng Flor Contemplacion sa Sta. Cruz city jail sa Sta. Cruz Laguna, pinapila niya ang mga presong nakasama namin at pinagbibigyan niya ng pera. Tinawag ako ng warden at sinabi sa aking pigilan si Ate Guy at babalik na ang mga preso sa kulungan at baka magsitakas. Sabi ni ate Guy, ‘walang tatakas sinabihan ko sila’ at wala ngang tumakas!” he narrated.

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(Ate Guy is kind to all her colleagues. She doesn’t want anyone to be oppressed or aggrieved, especially the crew members who are only paid a small amount. On the last day of filming, she would definitely give everyone some financial help. The workers were overjoyed by her kindness. After the shooting of Flor Contemplacion at the Sta. Cruz city jail, she had the prisoners  line up and gave them money. The warden called me and told me to stop Ate Guy as the prisoners were supposed to return to the jail as they might escape. Ate Guy said, “I told them they should not escape” and no one escaped!)

Lamangan and Aunor collaborated on the films “Muling Umawit ang Puso,” “Flor Contemplacion,” “Bakit May Kahapon Pa,” “Sidhi,” “Hustisya” and “Isa Pang Bahaghari.”